The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-06-07
RAILROAD WAR.
The Boston & Maine and the Con-
cord Railroads.
mastering of the Clans at the New
Hampshire Legislature.
Observations on the Railroad Situa-
ton In Northern New England.

New YORK, June CA Concord On. HI
special TO the Herald says: "The contest in
the Legislature between the Boston IL Maine
and the Concord roads for control Of the
railroad system of the Merrimac Valley is
to be a lively one. The Boston & Maine,
which few years ago was third rate road
running from Boston to Portland, most of
the way having only single track, is now
the most powerful railroad corporation in
New England. 1t has, by lease and pur-
chase, acquired the control of and now oper-
ates the Eastern, the Maine Central and its
branches, the Dover & Winnepesaukee. the
Wolfboro, the Portsmouth, Great Falls &
Conway, and the Worcester, Nashua g.
Rochester railroads. 1t has also within
few weeks leased the Boston g. Lowell with
all its branches and secured controlling in
terest In the Manchester & Lawrence. Its
avowed purpose is to- bring into one
grand combination all the roads of New
Hampshire and Eastern Massachusetts. The
scheme is a big one, but 1t would undcubted-
ly succeed if it were not for the opposition
of the Concord road. The Concord is q
short road, its main stem, extending from
Concord to Nashua, being but 80 miles m
length 1t is, however, one Of the best pieces
"
charter it can pay only ten per cent. diyi-
dends, but it has for years earned from 80 to
40 per cent. Its position as the connecting
link between the northern and southern
roads makes it especially valuable, and sew
eral months ago the Boston and Maine peo-
pie made proposals to either lease it or pur-
chase controlling interest. The par value
OF the stock is $50, and up to within short
time its market value was about $40. As
high as $175 share was offered for a con-
fnnl linz nsata l.s~A H. l.
were firm and would neither sell nor lease.
Now the battle is to be fought out in the
Legislature. The directing spirit of both
corporations include several of New Hamp-
shire's shrewpest men. Frank Jones, the
millionaire brewer of Portsmouth; A. w.
Sulloway, of Franklin member of the Demo-
cratic National Committee, and John w.
Sanborn, of Wakefield. have been here all
the week in behalf of the Boston and Maine,
while the Concord has been represented by
son, Of this city, and Others Both roads
have several pariors at the Phoenix Hotel,
and an army of retainerS are in their service
to labor with legislators.
1t is the purpose of the Boston and Maine
to get a lease of the Northern Railroad from
the Legislature, and holding, as it does, a
lease of the Boston and Lowell which has a
lease of the Montreal line. close up the North
ern and Southern outlets of the Concord
thereby paralyizing it and compelling its ult.
During the past few days the report has
been extensively circulated that the Concord
Railroad directors did mot mean to fight,
but were merely holding OFF for terms from
the combination, but it's now certsin that
the Concord board OF directors are determin-
ed to fight They state that they represent
the interests of New Hampshire, and claim
that they will have in the contest able and
support outside Of those especially
representing the Concord Interests, which
Sunnorf will from fhoca ho ra
ed to placing in the hahds Of few men such
powers as are sought by the
Boston and Maine interest.
1T is claimed that the knights of Labor,
OF whom there are sixty in the Legislature,
can be relied upon to oppose the scheme of |
the combination. There is one proposition |
which is meeting with a good deal of favor |
among the members of the Legislature. By |
the terms of the charter of the Concord |
the State may at any time take the |
road by paying the cost of construction and |
an additional sum sufficient to make up ten |
per cent dividend for each year in which |
less than len :has been paid. Those who |
favor this idea say that if the road is as val |
liable as 1T Is represented the State had much |
better run it than to see 1t turned over to a |
foreign corporation.
1T is also asserted by some that behind |
the Boston and Maine stands the Canadian |
Pacific, which desires an outlet on the At
lantic seaboard and can find no better ter |
Boston and Lowell in Boston-admittcdly |
the best in the metropolis of New England |
The Boston and Lowell is now operating the |
Passumpsic, which runs from White River |
Junction, VT, to the Canadian border. The |
northerly portion of that line and the Mon
treal, with the Concord and the Boston and |
Lowell, form an air line from Canada to |
Boston, and as the grades are light it can be |
easily discerned why these roads would be of |
great value tosthe canadian Pacific in its |
scheme to reach tidewaser.
I'm just what form the legislation to be |
asked for by the roads, or either of them,
will be put has not been clearly indicated. |
The committees of both branches of the leg
stature will be announced Tuesday morning |
1t is probable that Immediately afterward |
one or more bills will be introduced and re-
ferred to the appropriate committee. Great !
pressure has been brought to bear on the
l'resldent OF the Senate and the Speaker of
the House to put members supposed to be
favorable to each interest ON the railroad |
but it is probable that both roads
will be impartially represented.